Norma Violet Sharples

Norma Violet Sharples passed away on September 28, 2022, with her three daughters by her side, at the age of 93. She had enjoyed many of her favorite things right up until the last few weeks of her life: time with her family, lunches out, visits to favorite parks, admiring the flowers in her own pretty garden, and listening to her beloved classical music.

Norma was born on December 1, 1928, to Edward George Coombes and Ivy Lillian Coombes (nee Wise). Her birth was registered in the village of Amport, Southhampton in England, but the family was not there for long and she remembers her earliest years being in a bustling part of London. Edward was a chef in the Royal Air Force and was often posted away from the family. Her mother was a country girl who found it hard to live in London. The family grew: a brother Edward (Ted), a sister Ivy, and twins Ronald and Donald. Another sister, June, was born when Norma was a teenager. Always friends, they became extremely close in later years. June is the only sibling to survive Norma. Norma remembers very clearly the years of WWII, of being awakened in the night and rushed into an air raid shelter in the back garden. Despite moments of deep fear, she was young enough to see some adventure in this and look forward to sweets and playing cards as the family hunkered down in safety. As the war progressed, Ivy and her children were evacuated to a farm in the countryside near Crewe. Norma loved country life and had many stories of raising geese, taking cows to market with farmer Brown, and receiving her first kiss over a gate to a field.

It was still during the war that the family moved to Warton, Lancashire. Here Norma worked as a waitress and enjoyed dancing at the Winter Gardens Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire, to such musical greats as Tommy Dorsey and Glen Miller. Norma later worked as an aeronautical draftswoman at English Electric which was based in Warton. It was there that she met the man she would marry in 1955, Geoffrey Francis Sharples, an aeronautical design engineer. Two daughters were born in England, Loraine and Anne Frances. In 1966 Geoffrey was offered a job at Boeing in Seattle, Washington, USA, and the family immigrated there. It was a huge adjustment for this English family; they were extremely homesick for the first few years. One year after arriving in the United States, their third daughter Catherine Rose was born.

Norma eventually considered the USA her home, but visits to England to see family were her lifeline. Norma also made close friends in the Seattle area … mostly English women like herself and their husbands. The newly emigrated British couples formed the Britannia Club and for over 40 years it was a source of great fun, social gatherings, and a touchpoint with their home country. Norma always loved to travel, and in their retirement years Maui, Hawaii, became a favorite destination for her and Geoffrey. They also traveled in Europe and enjoyed exploring the USA.

The Sharples family had settled on Mercer Island in Washington State and Norma and Geoffrey lived there until his death in 2007. It was a happy marriage of 52 years. Norma’s family was always her focal point and she was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. The grandchildren have wonderful memories of her and know their love of art, theater, and classical music was due to her influence.

In 2008, now widowed, Norma moved to a new home in Snohomish, Washington. Loraine and her husband Jeffrey lived with her there until her death. She enjoyed visiting Anne in Florida and later Oregon. Both Anne and Catherine, who lived only a few miles away, were frequent visitors. Norma loved nothing more than a cup of tea with her girls or grandchildren. Those who got to know her at this time in her life describe her as lovely, gracious, sweet, and charming. As she grew older she continued to enjoy life and her family; her beloved classical music filled the house as it always had. Norma died of pneumonia after a short illness.

She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands: Loraine and Jeffrey Heckman; Anne and Martin McLean; Catherine and Terry Eaton. Also, her grandchildren, Ryan LeBoss, Amber Hoffman and her husband CJ, Holly Eaton, Madeline Eaton, Sophy Ryser and her husband Carver, and Greyson McLean; and her great-grandchildren Elizabeth Lackie, Ian Lackie, and Tenzin LeBoss.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Geoffrey, and her much loved and never forgotten grandson, Jason LeBoss.

We’ll always remember that special smile that caring heart that warm embrace you always gave us. We’ll always remember you being there for Dad and us through good and bad times no matter what.

We’ll always remember you, Mom, because there’ll never be anyone to replace you in our hearts and the love we will always have for you.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Classic King FM in Seattle, the radio station that brought her much joy and filled her home with music throughout her life.

A private celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date.

Please feel free to leave comments and share memories on this memorial website. Her family thanks everyone for the outpouring of sympathy and love.